Crackdown - superhero breakdown

Without this final power, few of the others could even exist. If your legs aren't made of superhuman muscle, you can't leap to new heights or sprint ahead of traffic. So, it's brute strength that brings this comparison to a close, and when it comes to beating the crap out of everyone, Superman takes the gold every time. In Crackdown, your peak condition will let you lift enormous missile trucks overhead and fling them across the street like child's blocks. Few items will be safe from your five-fingered wrath. And these bipedal fleshbags that keep shooting at you? They'll go soaring through the air with a single kick.

But that's no Superman. Even if you ignored all his other powers, he's still gonna win without question. So, no, you won't be punching people through buildings or flying around the city. Sorry.

Above: "Gosh, I'm so strong I have to appear contemplative." No one's falling for it. And Surfer? Stop sucking

When we had to think of someone who's allegedly powerful yet always seems to lose (and thusly weaker than our leveled up agent), the first being that came to mind was Norrin Radd, the Silver Surfer. In theory, he should be able to take even Supes. In reality, he gets his ass handed to him every time. He's supposed to be more about peace and understanding than sheer brutality, but come on, we've read entire miniseries that go by without a single Surfer punch.

So what should you take away from all of this? Crackdown could end up being the ultimate sandbox game. You've got a massive city just waiting to be torn apart with powers from across the comic book spectrum. The game's short on story but hey, when you're hopping from rooftop to rooftop with a car in your hands, it's hard to worry about anything else.

Oh, and there are no little kids screaming for their damn lost balloons.